Former Tory ministers deny cash for Brexit claim while Channel 4 pulls its programme
THREE former Cabinet ministers have denied wrongdoing after an attempted Channel 4 “cash for Brexit” sting. The broadcaster’s Dispatches programme targeted former Tory ministers Lord Lansley, Andrew Mitchell and Peter Lilley.
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It used a fake Chinese investor, who wanted to pay the politicians for tips on how to make money out of Britain leaving the EU.
The programme, which was titled 'Politicians For Hire: Cashing In On Brexit', was scheduled to air tonight, but Channel 4 last night pulled it, saying: “We are continuing to work on the film, which will be broadcast soon.”
Mr Mitchell said he “smelt a rat” within minutes of arriving at the meeting.
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Lord Lansley has referred himself to Parliament’s standards watchdog.
The former Health Secretary was targeted even though he is undergoing treatment after having cancer diagnosed last summer.
Mr Lilley, a Cabinet minister in John Major’s Government, said that he would report Channel 4 to Ofcom over what he described as a “tawdry attempt at entrapment” and the programme makers’ refusal to release a transcript to allow him to answer its claims.
